23rd Jul 2008 - 00:00
Abstract
Many of Anglesey Island's school kitchen staff have met their new employer at a specially convened meeting and learned they are to keep their jobs.
The County Council announced that all of the 180 staff currently employed will be kept on by Eden Foodservices when the new school meals contract begins on September 1st, 2008.
Berkshire-based Eden Foodservices has been awarded the new three-year school meals contract on Anglesey. School meals are currently provided by Gwynedd Provider Services (GPS).
Head of Education, Gwyn Parri, said: "Eden is a very large company, with a great deal of experience in handling group contracts. Their tender document, plans for improvement and food impressed us greatly and we look forward to working with them over the next three years. Even though GPS decided not to tender for the new contract, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank them for their service since 1996."
Eden Foodservices secured the contract after announcing plans for:
• maximising the use of local produce
• demonstrating consistent high quality
• increasing the school meals uptake
• and its commitment to the Anglesey Food and Nutrition Strategy, and the Assembly's 'Appetite for Life' agenda.
Education and Leisure portfolio holder, Councillor Eurfryn Davies, explained: "We've succeeded in securing all existing jobs and I'm confident that today's meeting with Eden has also helped put minds at rest. There was some slippage in awarding the contract, which was, in the main, due to issues regarding TUPE (Transfer of Undertaking and Protection of Employment).
He added: "A new school year will herald a new dawn for school meals on Anglesey and I'm sure we'll continue to see the same dedication and hard work from kitchen staff. Eden has impressed so far, but the proof of the pudding, as they say, will be in the eating. The hard work begins now, and I expect to see our school children benefiting as a result of this new contract."
Eden offers a menu with a high proportion of fresh fruit and vegetables which is prepared on site, from scratch, every day.
The principal goal behind its menu development is to provide a variety of freshly prepared, high quality, nutritious dishes.
Managing Director for Eden, Simon James, said: "At Eden it is our priority to offer and promote healthy eating for children and young people. We offer a range of tasty menus and employ a registered nutritionist to ensure our meals are packed full of essential nutrients."